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Lowell brawl spurs calls for action

Police 'fighting for our lives' at downtown bar

By Sarah Favot, sfavot@lowellsun.com

Updated:
12/22/2012 07:12:47 AM EST

LOWELL -- Five people were arrested early Friday morning after a "massive fight" broke out inside the Brian's Ivy Hall nightclub, according to police, spurring further calls to action from city officials to implement new regulations for downtown establishments.

The regulations, designed to reduce violence downtown, were drafted by city officials and endorsed by the City Council after a February brawl at Fortunato's that resulted in 14 arrests and injured three police officers, along with other violent incidents downtown.

City Manager Bernie Lynch said the Brian's Ivy Hall incident highlights the need to put tougher regulations in place.

"It's not something that's acceptable or that can continue," said Lynch.

No injuries were reported from the melée that erupted at Brian's Ivy Hall, 74 Merrimack St., around 1:15 a.m. Friday.

Police said the crowd turned on them when they were attempting to quell a fight that erupted inside.

"We were fighting for our lives," an officer wrote in a police report.

One woman and four men faced charges consisting of assault and battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and malicious destruction of property over $250.

The License Commission, which oversees individual licenses for establishments, has yet to pass the new regulations.

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Lynch recently appointed a new commissioner to the three-member commission and said he plans to appoint another new member at the council's next meeting in January.

One of the first items on the commission's agenda with the two new members will be to take up the revised regulations, Lynch said.

"I don't know what it's going to take for action to be taken," said City Councilor Rodney Elliott. "The City Council has sent a message that this can't happen. It cannot be happening downtown."

Elliott said he is frustrated by the Brian's Ivy Hall incident and may request that a special meeting be held.

"We need to take swift action and do everything it takes to put further restrictions in place and revisit and implement more strict regulations," he added.

City Councilor Joseph Mendonca said he, too, hopes the License Commission will pass the proposed regulations.

If the commission takes no action, he said, the City Council could choose to implement restrictions on all establishments.

"As a last resort we can do that," he said. "It would be my hope not to punish the establishments that do not have any problems."

Lynch said the city has done a good job addressing issues downtown.

The City Council recently appropriated an additional $87,000 to the police overtime budget to increase patrols in the downtown because of persistent crime and in the neighborhoods because of a recent rash of shootings.

"Over the last several months, it seems to have been brought somewhat under control with the additional police presence, but clearly issues still exist and this is evidence of that, that establishments have to get better control of what goes on," said Lynch.

He said downtown bar owners seem to have a "deaf ear" to the city's calls for action.

Police said they received information from the Boston Police Department that multiple people with gang associations could be attending the show at Brian's Ivy Hall.

As a result, the department alerted its Community Response Unit, which provides additional officers who respond when needed. They were asked to monitor and provide assistance with crowd control, according to Capt. Randall Humphrey.

The age-18-and-over event, which was advertised with tickets starting at $20, featured Chicago-based rapper "Chief Keef," who was appearing "for the first time in Lowell!!" according to the event's promotion advertisement.

About six or seven police officers were stationed in the club during the performance.

At one point, about 100 patrons were standing on the stage ignoring repeated requests by the performers to clear the stage, according to a police officer's report read by Humphrey.

Police allege the melee was spurred by ice being thrown from the stage onto the crowd and someone in the crowd throwing something back at the stage.

Police descended into the crowd.

Patrons were fighting among themselves and battling with police using their hands, legs and miscellaneous objects, according to an officer's report.

Police released pepper spray into the crowd, according to police reports.

Police said they were surrounded and called for back-up. Additional units rushed to the scene. The total number of officers responding reached 10 to 15 officers.

"I don't think we expected it to turn into something like this," said Humphrey.

Hayhurst, who was at the event Thursday night, alleges there was no physical fighting until the police descended into the crowd.

"They snapped on any little thing," said Hayhurst. "They caused the riot in there."

Hayhurst believed the police stationed in the club were "hypersensitive" because of the alleged previous information the department received about possible gang violence.

He said he was not informed about the information police received.

He said the increased police presence put the crowd on edge.

"It was a recipe for disaster," he said.

Security measures that he implemented Thursday night included increasing his security staff to 10, a couple more than on a usual weekend night, waving a wand over each patron to detect any metal or objects that could be used as a weapon and not using any glass cups or bottles to serve beverages.

"It was a safe environment from my point of view. I tried to make it as safe as I could," Hayhurst said.

Hayhurst said 375 people attended the event. Brian's Ivy Hall occupancy is 456.

Those arrested and who were scheduled to appear in Lowell District Court Friday were:

* Jessica K. Stvil, 25, of Saugus, charged with assault and battery on a police officer and disturbing peace

Before the melee broke out, two other patrons were arrested: Danielle A. Woods-Beadsley, 21, of Hyde Park, on charges of disorderly conduct and Jecksan Rodriguez, 24, address uncertain, on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

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